MIAMI -- A woman survived a potentially fatal shark attack, thanks to a lifesaving coincidence.

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Michelle Glen was diving in the Turks and Caicos when a shark bit her upper arm, tearing through muscles, nerves, and a major artery.

Experts say most shark attack victims die of blood loss, and with the severity of Glen's wound, the likelihood of death was very high.

Amazingly, Glen was rescued by her husband, who is an orthopedic surgeon, and a friend who is a vascular surgeon. Vascular surgeons specialize in repairing arteries and veins. The friend was able to clamp Glen's wound, and stopped the potentially life-threatening bleeding.

Glen was transferred by air to Miami's Ryder Trauma Center on Thursday. She underwent six hours of surgery.

Orthopedic surgeon Anne Oullette described the shark bite as the worst she's ever seen, saying it was a foot across, and it literally excised the Glen's upper arm, leaving no muscle behind.

Doctors said there is a 50 percent possibility that Glen will not loose her arm. But they also said there is a chance that she might not regain use of the arm.